Africa: Species Endangered by Palm Oil Deforestation

Chimpanzee Pan troglodytes

Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) are one of humanity’s closest living relatives and the most widespread of all great apes, with a vast historical range stretching across 21 African countries. Despite this, they are now classified as Endangered by the IUCN Red List due to catastrophic declines of more than 50% over a 75-year period, from 1975 to a projected 2050. These losses are driven by a lethal cocktail of threats: rampant poaching, habitat destruction for palm oil and logging, industrial mining, disease outbreaks like Ebola, and illegal trafficking. Subspecies such as P. t. ellioti have been reduced to only a few thousand individuals, while the once widespread P. t. verus is now Critically Endangered. Protecting them means dismantling the extractive industries that are ripping Africa’s forests apart such as the meat industry and palm oil industry. Help them when you #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife and be #Vegan #BoycottMeat

Leopard Panthera pardus

Of all the great cats prowling the wild, few inspire as much awe and fascination as the leopard Panthera pardus. Sleek, powerful, and enigmatic, leopards are found across a staggering range—from sub-Saharan Africa, forests of West Africa and the Middle East to Central Asia and the forests of Southeast Asia. Yet this extraordinary adaptability masks a disturbing truth. The leopard is currently listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, with some subspecies such as the Amur, Arabian, and Javan leopard are on the very brink of extinction. Across their range, these elusive big cats are being driven into ever-shrinking patches of habitat, with populations decimated by deforestation, rampant poaching, prey depletion, and the relentless spread of palm oil plantations and other monoculture. Help leopards every time you shop and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife

Okapi: African Unicorns

Deep in the heart of Africa, in the dense tropical rainforests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), there lurks a very curious creature. With long legs and predominantly dark brown coat of short fur, Okapi look, at first glance, a bit like a horse. But a second look will reveal a somewhat deer-like face atop a relatively long, flexible neck, and, most strikingly, horizontal white stripes on its upper legs and rump. Help them to survive every time you shop #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife and be #Vegan.

Rüppell’s Vulture Gyps rueppelli

Rüppell’s Vulture Gyps rueppelli - Africa

The Rüppell’s Vulture is an enigmatic avian marvel soaring the African and European skies. Their powerful wings carry them aloft on streams of air to altitudes of 11,000 metres. From far above they scan the endless landscapes for sustenance. These remarkable carrion cleaners pose no threat to humans and only eat dead animals. They now teeter on the brink of extinction, fewer than 22,000 individuals remain alive due to the depletion of their prey species, human and wildlife conflict and palm oil deforestation throughout their range. This critically endangered species, are known for their awe-inspiring high altitude flights—reaching heights seen by commercial airlines. They face a grave threat from the insidious palm oil industry, mining along with other destructive industries across their range. Help them to survive and #BoycottPalmOil and #Boycott4Wildlife every time you shop.

Western Red Colobus Piliocolobus badius

The Western Red Colobus Piliocolobus badius is one of West Africa’s most #endangered #primates, facing an escalating crisis of habitat loss and overhunting. Once abundant in mature forests across the region, they have been driven to the brink of #extinction by rampant deforestation for charcoal, palm oil and mining and the increasing demand for #bushmeat. Widespread clearing of forests for industrial #palmoil plantations, #mining, and #timber has fragmented their habitat, isolating populations and making them more vulnerable to #poaching. Without urgent intervention, their future remains uncertain. Help them every time you shop and be #vegan #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife

Timneh Parrot Psittacus timneh

The Timneh Parrot, a smaller and darker cousin of the African Grey Parrot, captivates with their intelligence, vibrant personalities, and ability to mimic speech. However, their beauty and charm have contributed to their decline. The illegal pet trade is depleting wild populations, with poachers raiding nests to meet global demand. Meanwhile, habitat destruction driven by out-of-control palm oil plantations, meat agriculture, and crops like cocoa, coffee, and tobacco is eroding their forest homes.

Research shows that the parrot trade, facilitated by social media, has expanded into new regions like Algeria, where demand for exotic pets continues to fuel poaching. The population declines are staggering—studies in Cameroon show local reductions of up to 99% over 14 years due to trapping and habitat loss. Protecting these parrots requires ending the demand for wild-caught birds and halting deforestation in West Africa. Take action today: #BoycottPalmOil #BoycottMeat #Boycott4Wildlife.

Pygmy Hippopotamus Choeropsis liberiensis

The rare and secretive Pygmy Hippopotamus clings to survival as their forest habitat is destroyed for palm oil and meat, help them when you boycott palm oil!

White-thighed Colobus Colobus vellerosus

The White-thighed Colobus (Colobus vellerosus), also known as the Ursine Colobus or Geoffroy’s Black-and-White Colobus, is a striking primate of West Africa and is currently listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Their numbers have plummeted by over 80% in just three generations due to rampant deforestation driven by logging, agriculture, and expanding palm oil plantations. Intense bushmeat hunting and weakening traditional taboos have further accelerated their decline. With fewer than 1,500 individuals thought to remain in the wild, urgent action is needed to save them. Use your wallet as a weapon—boycott products that contain palm oil and support ethical, indigenous-led conservation. BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife #Vegan #BoycottMeat

Krokosua Squeaking Frog Arthroleptis krokosua

Help save one of Africa’s most endangered amphibians, the Krokosua Squeaking Frog from logging and palm oil deforestation. Take action, boycott palm oil

Roloway Monkey Cercopithecus roloway

The Roloway Monkey is one of West Africa’s rarest primates, instantly recognisable by their elegant white beard and striking brow band. Once common in the lush rainforests of Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, the Roloway Monkey now survives only in isolated pockets of old-growth forest. The Roloway Monkey’s world is shrinking rapidly—palm oil, cocoa, and logging companies clear the last ancient trees, while hunters target the Roloway Monkey for bushmeat. The air is thick with the scent of damp earth and the distant echo of chainsaws. With fewer than 2,000 Roloway Monkeys left, their future hangs by a thread. Stand with indigenous communities defending the last forests. Use your wallet as a weapon. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife #Vegan

Miss Waldron’s Red Colobus Piliocolobus waldroni

xMiss Waldron’s Red Colobus, a secretive old world primate sport chestnut, black, and white white fur that surrounds their expressive faces. They live in the dense canopies of West Africa’s dwindling forests. Their story is one of ever-increasing fragility, on the edge of survival. Sightings of these magnificent primates have faded away since 1978. The last evidence, a skin, emerged in 2002.

These monkey species have been driven towards the extinction by palm oil, cocoa, and rubber plantations along with hunting for bushmeat. Their calls, once a common cacophony are now nearly permanently silenced. Miss Waldron’s Red Colobus serve as a living warning for forest health. They disappear before most other mammals wherever the forests fall. Support indigenous sovereignty and safeguarding of ecosystems—use your wallet as a weapon and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife.

Okapi Okapia johnstoni

The mysterious and enchanting Okapi, also known as the forest giraffe, roams the dense rainforests of the Democratic Republic of Congo. With a large expressive eyes and ears, velvety dark brown coat adorned with striking white stripes and large – they captivate the imagination! These solitary creatures have a remarkable prehensile tongue for foraging and grooming. Okapi mothers use inaudible sounds to communicate with their young. Sadly these remarkable creatures are endangered and face severe threats from palm oil, mining and tobacco deforestation, hunting and human conflict. You can help protect them by making mindful palm oil free supermarket choices. #BoycottPalmOil and #Boycott4Wildlife to safeguard these beautiful animals.

Explore the biodiversity of Africa and discover how palm oil deforestation impacts wildlife. Learn how you can help. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife

Mount Nimba Reed Frog Hyperolius nimbae

Fragile Mount Nimba Reed Frogs 🐸💚 hang on to life in Côte d’Ivoire 🇨🇮 Africa. Seldom seen and often forgotten, they’re endangered due to palmoil meat agriculture. Serving as both predator and prey, Mount Nimba Reed Frogs are integral to the local ecology of Mount Nimba. Take action and advocate for indigenous-led conservation initiatives that prioritise the biodiversity protection. Fight for their survival when you shop and #BoycottMeat #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife

White-bellied Pangolin Phataginus tricuspis

The White-bellied Pangolin also commonly known as the Tree Pangolin are fascinating creatures akin to giant pest controllers, estimated to consume around 70 million insects per year. #Pangolins don’t have teeth, rather they have scales lining their stomachs which aid them in the digestion of food that is swallowed whole. Baby pangolins often ride on their mother’s backs and and are known as pango pups. They are able to use their tails to support their body weight and can walk upright on their hind legs.

They are often captured and killed for the illegal #poaching trade in abandoned palm oil plantations in their native homelands in #WestAfrica. Now classified as #Endangered by the IUCN, White-bellied Pangolins face a terrifying future. The dual threats of industrial-scale trafficking and rampant #deforestation for agriculture—especially #palmoil plantations—are pushing them towards extinction Help them every time you shop and #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife